Jewelry high jinks in Paris!

Fatal Charm  by Blair McDowell

A deceptively simple start to dramatic and lively unfolding action, where romance and mystery take the lead!

Caitlin Abernathy, a jewelry designer is shocked by the murder of her boy friend Allen Thompson. His last words to the medics were a message for her. Something about an omelette. It didn't make sense.

Nothing is straightforward with this day. Shortly before Caitlin learns of Allen's death she is confronted by two men who rob her of a selection of her jewelry designs as she's on her way to meet a potential client.

A stranger enters Caitlin's workshop to commission a piece. He is a noted historian, professor and  mentor for her associate and friend Aristotle, a doctoral student who resides above her studio. Dr. Colin Stryker is an Irishman, charming and intelligent. The attraction between the two is immediate.

The finding of a dragon brooch hidden amongst Caitlin's store of gems and precious stones draws these three (Caitlin, Colin and Aristotle) into an improbable quest that ranges from Berkley, California to France; from Paris and the Louvre to small villages in Brittany. The drama unfolds with the possibility of attack and death in the wings. Caitlin learns that Allen Thompson was so much more than he appeared to be. With two vicious French criminals pursing them, the suspense heats up, even as the relationship between Caitlin and Colin simultaneously takes to the fast lane.

Caitlin is a modern woman, committed to her passion for jewelry designing. Her career is just taking flight, her business world has just opened up. Romance is not part of that picture. Caitlin's heart however has its own reasoning. 

Having dabbled in jewelry design I loved how Caitlin took inspiration for her pieces from various places and sights. I liked how her commissioned pieces reflected the person she designed for. The elegance and beauty of Paris as the central backdrop for the intrigue, adds color and movement to the drama. The tug of war for Caitlin between romance and career is real and heartfelt. I particularly liked the attention to food as a gathering point and motif throughout. I was drawn back to my memories of Paris--the sights, sounds and aromas. It's these small touches that inject an extra dimension, a 'je ne sais quoi' into the mix.

A worthy successor to 'Where Lemons Bloom'. This time romance and intrigue moves from the Amalfi Coast to the 'City of Love' and does not disappoint!

(I received an ARC from the author.  This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review)

*****